Photo 4/10 | 2014 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel Tradesman Gear Select Control | The ZF 8HP70 eight-speed shiftable automatic transmission works in perfect harmony with the EcoDiesel engine. Unfortunately, it uses a low-placed electronic dial for drive selection, and the manual shift buttons on the steering wheel are hard to reach.

Photo 5/10 | 2014 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel Tradesman Tri Fold Tonneau Cover | We used the Ram to do some light work transporting a pickup bed full of orange tree branches. The spray-in bedliner is standard (although it can be deleted for a discount) and the Velcro-secured Tri-Fold tonneau cover costs $500. The cover kept the load secure (as multiple signs leading to the green waste dump warn you may incur fines for failure to do so) and the bed was easy to clean using just a hose and a broom.

Photo 6/10 | 2014 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel Tradesman Gauge Cluster | During a highway-only trip north over Southern California’s Grapevine we set the cruise control and watched the trip computer as the mpg progressively increased. At the end of our 140.4-mile drive, we calculated that the truck had achieved 30.48 mpg.

Photo 7/10 | 2014 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel Tradesman Trailer Brake Controller | The Tradesman model we tested included an integrated trailer brake controller that’s part of the $330 Trailer Tow Mirror and Brake Control Group option. The traction control on/off and tow/haul buttons are mounted nearby.